Sanding machine



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Dec. 25,1945. J. P. ELLIOTT SANDING MACHINE Filed March 3l, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 25, 1945. v .1.l P. ELLIOTT 2,391,443 SANDINGNmJHIrm'v l v Filed March 31, l1942l 7 sheets-sheet s f6 Eig-2 4 JdzBEuiozz-g Dec. 25, 1945; J. P. ELLIOTT SANDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 31. 1942 GSK A JciBEllOl,

QQ s @E ik K NN v N NWN 36S /J' a, m5, b Rmx @nu Patented Dec. 25, 1945 Tanning Company, Westfield, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 31, 1942., Serial No. 437,070

io'clams. (c1. 51-3s) This invention relates to the art of sanding machines, and more particularly to a machine for -the sanding of various articles, including `pieces of leather. Prior sanding machines have had to be fed manually, and have had to be adjusted for the thickness of the material being sanded. As a preliminary to this adjustment, the materials to be treated have had to be graded for thickness.

:I have found that it is possible to feed a sanding machine automatically Without change of adjustments', and to have it adapted to all kinds, shapes, and sizes of materials.

It'is therefore an object of this invention to provide a sanding machine of general application for the sanding of all materials.

It is a particular object-to yproduce a sanding machine which is especially adapted for the sandkinds, shapes, and sizes of It is an additional object to perform the sanding operation automatically and without the necessity of changing the adjustmentof the machine on account of variations in the thickness and shape of the materials being sanded.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, I have set forth my invention in the following speciflcation and have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy sanding machine with certain parts broken away for the sake of clarityl f Fig. 2 Vis a plan viewy thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view with the main conveyor mechanism and rcertain other parts removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of4 Fig. 7, showing thefeed-in mechanism and the rst sanding drum;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the cross-head advancing a tap; v

Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged transverse section on the line 1-1 f Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectionon` the line'8-8 of Fig. 1 with the lower portion broken away. Y Y

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment ofmy invention and have shown it in connection with a machine for sanding leather taps and strips, but it will be -apparent that it isnot limited thereto, and that it is of general application for sanding shapes, and 'sizesoff materials.

x In its broadest aspect, my improved sanding machine is adapted to have the materials which itis desired to sand supplied to a hopper, autoall kinds,

' matically fed, one at a time, to the conveyor mechanism, propelled progressively through the sand ing mechanism while being held in contact therewith, then to 'a' brush, andnally e'jectedffrorn the machine 'onto any convenient support or 're ceptaelepr It will therefore be convenient to lexplain my new sanding machine by referring to the following sub-divisions,y which will be explained in the order named:

A. Feed-in mechanism ing of leather taps and strips. Y It is another object to permit the handling of ggor mlln pieces of leather which vary in uniformity of .g me Y .Y D. `Operation .Y 'thickness and shape. E Modifications Itis also an object to provide means for altering .f 1 the depth ofthe sanding cut. A Feedin mechanism A plurality of taps l0 are stacked inV a hopper Il, supported by a plurality of vertical rods I2, asbest shownin Figs. land 5. Thetapsjare fed by gravity into the path of a reciprocating crosshead I3 when the latter is retracted, as explain-ed below,vand are VHadvanced between a springtensionedpressure roll I4 and conveyor ibelts 1 5.

The latter, of which there are preferably three,

.f arranged'side by side, are driven by a spur gear I6 and guided by a plurality of sheaved pulleys I1, I8,and 20, carried byfkstub shafts 2| 22, and

'23, respectively, mounted in the longitudinal frame 24 of the machine.

on a countershaft30. The latter isl provided with l f a sprocket 29 through whichit is driven by a chain 31 from another sprocket 32, on a counter- -shaft V33, through a small motor, such as a 1A horsepower motor (not shown).

-Countershaft v3 0 is provided with another sprocket 34 which drives va disc 35, mounted on a countershaft' 36through a chainy 3l and Ma sprocket 3'8 also 4carried .by countershaft 36,.'

f Disc-35 is provided with a cross-head that vwith a `support block 54.

adjustable through a nut 4| and is adapted to be received in and guided by a slot 42 in an arm 43, which is pivoted at 44 to a link 45 pivotally attached to cross-head I3. As disc 35 is rotated, under the influence of chain 31, cross-head 40 moves up and down in slot 42 in arm 43, and swings the latter backward and forward to advance and retract crosshead I3, and at each forward motion advances a tap I0 toward pressure roll I4 and conveyor belts I5.

The reciprocating mechanism just described, except the chain 31 and sprockets 34 and 38, is normally housed within the machine framework 46. Access is obtained thereto through a door The hopper I I is provided with a stop 48, comprising a downwardly extending arm 50 and a rearwardly extending arm which is pivoted at 52 to a lug 53 carried by hopper II. Downwardly extending arm 58 projects into the path of taps I0,` below the level at which they are retained by vertical rods |2, Aand prevents more than one tap from entering the machine at a time. In itslowlest position, arm 50 is .kept slightly (e. g., 1/8") above the bed of hopper II by contact of Aarm `5| with the lpivotal support for pressure roll I4. The

taps are successively released as arm 50 is intermittently raised slightly by the lowest tap bearing against the rear curved'surface of the bottom of arm 50 (Fig. V5) as Vcross-head |3 pushes the .tap

forward.

Two-of the vertical rods I2 are also `provided This vis arranged a suitable distance above the bed of hopper II and projects into the vertical path of taps I 0, stacked I B. Conveyor mechanism As tapsI 0 or I0 are carried forward by conveyor belts I5, they are advanced toward a plurality of platens 60, 6I, 62, and 63, and pass along under?.

a series of weight blocks 64 carried by a pair of endless chains 65 through pairs of sprockets 66,

61. The latter are keyed on drive shafts 68, 69,

respectively, whichare supported -in ball bearings I3 v(Fig. 7) in the upper framework 14 of the machine.

Drive shaft 68 is provided with a sprocket 10 which is driven through a chain 1I by a sprocket 12, also-carriedby countershaft 30. Sprockets 66 on `drive shaft 68 in turn drive sprockets 61 on drive shaft 69 through the endless chains 65.

The individual weight blocks 64 comprise endless belt treads that are removably secured to chains 65 by thimbles 15, which are preferably tapped into the chains through threaded -eXten-- sions 16. The weight blocks are provided with parallel slots 11 and 18 in their upper and lower surfaces, respectively, to receive the heads 80 of the thimbles 'and to straddle sprockets 66, 61 The thimble shanks are made slightly longerl than the uncut portions 8| of the weight blocks between the parallel slots 11 and 18 to vallow the weight blocksa limited up Vand down'm'ovement.

Weight blocks 64 are Aalso provided with friction imparting pads 82, vpreferably rof rubber,r

which .are secured `to the outer surfaces of the weight blocks by metal screws 83, whose heads are countersunk at 84. As best shown in Fig. '1, when chains `65 vare driven through sprockets 66, 61, -the weight blocks are advanced, and, on the upper allows rubber pads 82 to come into contact with the tops of taps I0 and, through this frictional contact, with the aid of conveyor belts I5, they are advanced into contact, successively, with platens 60, 6|, 62, and 63. After the taps leave conveyor belts I5, the same frictional contact betweenvrubber pads 82 and taps I0, continues to advance them aschains 65 are moved toward sprockets 61.

As best shown 'in Fig. 1, the subsequent lifting of weight blocks 64, as the latter travel around sprockets 61, releases their contact with taps I0, but each tap is not completely released from its contact with the last weightblock until itis fed into the Vpath vof ejector rolls 86, 81, which expel the tap and allow it to drop onto a table 88.

Ejector4 roll YB6 Vis carried by .links |00, which are pivoted rearwardly at .|0| `in the top framework I 02 `of the machine. Ejectorroll 8'1 vis carried on a shaft |03, and isv driven 'through a pulley |04 and belt I05 from a sheaved pulley |06 von a countershaft |01, which will be described later.

As best shown in Fig. i1, the right hand sprockets 6.1 may be adjusted by bolts |08 to vary .the tension on chains 65.

Guides III) and Illare provided, .as .best shown in Fig. 8, to hold weight blocks 64 and their rubber pads 82 oi `the sanding `drums described just below. This is a very important part of the machine, as without this or 'its equivalent the drums would destroy the .tap 'advancing mechanism in a Yshort time.

C. Sanding 'mechanism As best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 8, the sanding vmechanism comprises `any suitable number of sandingv drums |30, |3I, of which two are shown in the preferred embodiment. These drums are mounted "on shafts |32, |33 that are rotatably supported in housings |34, |35, and provided with any suitable bearings |36, |31, |38 (see Fig. 8).

The drums are each preferably built up of composite members |40, I4I, |42, |43, and include a periphery |44 :provided with any suitable sanding medium |45, such as 'emery paper.

The sanding surface of the drum is yarranged in line with 'the path 0f the taps as they are advanced, and is of a suitable height to project into the openings formed between platens 60, 6|, 62, and 63, thus bringing the sanding surface of the drum into contact with the lower surfacesof taps I0 as they'are advanced by weight blocks 64.

Sanding drumsI |30, 3| are driven through sheaves |50, I5.|, which 1ere keyed to the shafts |32, |33, respectively, and are in turn driven vby continuous belts |52'which pass over both sheaves |50, I5I, andthence over a sheave |53 carried by the main drive motor |54, supported on the bed of the machine (see Figs. 1 and y The sanding drums are each given an oscillatingimovemen't in a substantially horizontal plane,

against the pressureof a vcoil spring |around a Xed bolt |'6I in framework |62 (see Fig. 3).

' This oscillating movement is .imparted `by means `ofarms |63, y|64 (see Figs. 3-and XSL-'which are 'framework arm 43"and oscillates the latter to ,advance pivoted to the bottom framework'of themachine -at |65: and 'at 'their upperends fare pivoted at |66 tofconnecting' links'v |61, whose opposite ends are pivotedat |68 `to thrust bearing housings |10. The latter are retained in position-by collars. I1I, which are securedto shafts |32, |33 by tapered and the main drum housings |34, |35 that support therear ends of shafts |32, I 33.

. H'The' oscillating motion of arms |63, |64 is im- "parted to them through connecting links |14, one

end of each of whichis pivoted t'o arms |63, |64 at (see Fig. 3).` 'I'he opposite end of each connecting link |14 engages a cam |16, mounted on a cross-shaft |11. The latter is provided with a pulley |18 through which it Vis driven by a belt l| from a drive pulley |8| mounted on a shaft |82 vof a reduction gear |83. f The raising or lowering of the sanding drums to make a deeper or shallower cut on the taps is effected-through wedges |84 that are mounted between the flat tables of brackets |85, secured to the framework |62 of the machine by bolts |81, and the reversely inclined lower portions of main drum housings |34, I 35. The corresponding wedges |84 are maintained in alignment with the main drum housings |34, |35 by'keys |86.

Wedges |84 are moved toward and away from |62 of the machine through the medium of shafts |88, mounted in said framework andthreaded into the forward ends of the wedges at |89; `Shafts |88 are adjusted through "hand wheels |90. Housings |34, are retained 'in alignment with brackets1|85 through a pluralityof bolts IlIr provided with adjustment nuts I9I Vfor retaining pressure springs |92.

The height of wedges |84 can be changed through yan adjustment plate |86', recessed into Vbracket |85, by a plurality of adjusting/screws |93, |94, |95 (seeFig. 3), that are -held in the desired adjustment by lock nuts |96. The wedges are held at the desired height by bolts |81.

` A dust retaining housing I 91, communicating with a dust exhaust pipe |98, is preferably provided to enclose sanding drums |30, I3 I, as shown Y in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 8.

through shaft 2| I, carrying a pulley 2 I4, by a belt 2 I5 that is driven by a pulley 2|6, mounted on a Countershaft 2 I1 driven by main drive motor I 54.

D. Operation It is believed the operation of the machine will be clear from the above description, but to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding, I will briefly summarize the sequence of operations.

Power from any suitable outside source, such as and retract cross-head I3, which in turn advances 'thevlowermost tap I0 in hopper I| betweenpressure roll I4 and conveyor belts I5.

The latter, driven by pulleys I1, I8, and 20, which are actuated by spur gear I6 through spur gear 28 on countershaft 30, advances the tap I0 toward the platens 60, 6|, 62, 63. In so doing, the tap passes under the series of weight blocks 64 carried by endless chains 65 through sprockets 66, 61. Sprockets 66 are drivenby a sprocket 10-through a chain-1I and a sprocket 12- von countershaft 30. Sprockets 66 drive sprockets 61 through endless chains 65.

As Weight b1ocks`64 are driven around sprockets 66, the shanks of thimbles 15 allowthe blocks 54 to drop until they contact with a tap I0, the heads of thimbles 15 limiting the downward travel of the 'weight blocks 64 in the event no tap is beneath them. As weight blocks 64-are lowered, their friction-imparting pads 82 engage the upper surface of a tap I0 and propel it f across the platens 60, 6I, 62, and 63.

As tap I0 reaches the space between platens 60 andBI, it is engaged by sanding drum |30 which is driven by shaft |32 through sheave |50, belts |52, sheave |53, and main drivemotor |54. As explained above, arm |63, controlled by a cam I 16, which in turn is driven through -pulley |18, belt |80, pulley |8|, and shaft |82 from` reduction gear |83, gives sanding drumr |30 an oscillating back and forth movement in a substantially horizontal plane. This sands the lower surface of the tap the desired amount, andthe further travel o1 the weight blocks 64 advances the tap I0 into the path of sanding drum I3|, which gives the ytap a similar additional sanding operation. y

After still further travel of the tap, effected Athrough weight blocks 64, the tap passes under brush 2 I0, driven by pulley 2I4 through belt 2I5 Vand pulley 2|6 on countershaft v2|1 through main drive motor |54. Still vfurther travel of weight blocks 64 propels the tap I 0 between-ejector rolls 86 and 81. The latter is driven through pulley |04 and belt |05 from pulley |06 on countershaft |01. j The .weight blocks 64 are then caused to release their pressure from the tap as the weight blocks are propelled around sprockets 61,` and the rotation of ejector rolls 86, 81 expels thetap and allows it to drop onto table 88.

This operation is repeated with each succeeding tap I0 as it descends from hoppervII into the path of reciprocating cross-head I3. Since the whole sanding mechanism is `enclosed in the housing I 91, it will be apparent that the dust will collect at the lowest point in the line, namely, in dust exhaust pipe |98, from which it is preferably continuously removed by connecting pipe |98l to any suitable exhaust system.

Although I have referred herein to the taps I0, it will be obvious that my machine is not limited to the use of taps, and, lwhere I have used the term taps herein, I mean to include soles, strips, or any other desired at pieces of leather or of other materials, as my sanding machine is of general application for the sanding of all kinds,l shapes, and sizes of materials, although it is particularly adapted for sanding leather articles.

E. Modifications It will be obvious that any desired number of conveyor belts I5 may be utilized; that Where Vmore or less than 2 sanding drums |30, I3I are desired, the -corresponding Y operating mechanism kcan be increased Vor diminished;that the .'size, shape, and speed of the machine and its various components can be adjusted to the work fbeing handled and the desired rate of production;

likewise, the sanding drums |30, 131 can be made of different construction from that illustrated, although the form indicated herein is the preferred form rand it is described. more fully `and claimed ina companion application Serial No. 437,071 Yiilecl March 31, 1942..

It is apparent that many 'widely diierent embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from `the vspiritand scope thereof, and, therefore, it is not intended to be limited except as indicated inthe appended claims.

I claim:

v1. In a. sanding machine, 'the combination cf a work hopper, a reciprocating mechanism for positively advancing the Work units one at a time, sanding mechanism Yarranged in the `path of lthe work, means vfor actuating the sanding mechanism, and a continuous conveyor mechanism mov-able longitudinally of the machine for progressively propelling the 'work units fon-ward without rotating them, the conveyor mechanism including independently operable vertically movable .means for holding the "work units in contact with the sanding mechanism.

2. The sanding machine of claim 1, in which the last-mentioned meansy comprises a plurality of weight blocks carried by endless chains which allow the weight blocks to drop by .gravity onto the work units and advance them into and out of the path of the sanding mechanism.

3. In a sanding machine, a conveyor mechanism for the units to be sanded comprising two pairs of sprockets, each pair being mounted on a common shaft, endless `chains passing around the sprockets on both shafts, a plurality of Weight blocks each secured to both endlessV chains, and means for permitting the weight blocks to have a limited up and down motion with respect to the endless chains.

4. The conveyor mechanism of claim 3, in which each weight block is secured to the endless chain by thimbles, each of which is provided with a shaft which is longer than the portion of the Weight block through which it passes and with a .head to limit the downward movement of the weight block.

5. The conveyor mechanism of claim 3, in which longitudinal guides are arranged below the path of the weight blocks to prevent them from dropping below a predetermined level.

'6. A weight block or a machine 'com-- a main ybody and a. Iriction .imparting treadsurface Iof resilient material removably secured thereto, the main body being 'provided with parallel 'slots on its under vsurface land with apertures extending vthrough the weight block in line with said slots to receive meansforlsecuring the weight block to adjacent mechanism.

7. In-asanding machine, a hopper in which the vwork units are stacked in vertical 'alignment and means for preventing more than a single work unit from being discharged from the lhopper at a time, Jsaid means comprising a plvoted arm carried by the hopper and overhanging the lower end :of the hopper so that the .lower Vportion of the arm 'extends into thepathof the lowest work unit in the hopper, and means for alternately raising and .lowering said arm a suiiicient amount lto permit the `discharge of said Work units, one

`at a time.

8. In a sanding machine, a hopper comprising a supporting base, a plurality of vertical retaining rods to confine the work units laterally, and a Istop carried by two of said rods and projecting into the path of the, work units to carry a portion of the weight of the lwork units thereabove and prevent scarring of the work units therebelow.

`9. In a sanding machine `for leather taps, the combination of a hopper in which the taps are stacked vertically, a reciprocating cross-head for advancing the taps one nat a time .from the hopper to a conveyor mechanism, a plurality of endless belts Ior receiving the ejected taps, a holddown roll for the taps in proximity to the endless belts, an endless belt conveyor mechanism to receive the taps from the first-mentioned endless .belts and propel them `progressively, a sanding drum arranged below the second-mentioned endless belt conveyor mechanism, means yfor rotating the sanding drum, means associated with the second mentioned endless belt conveyor ymechanism to hold the taps in contact with the sanding drum as the taps are advanced into and out of contact therewith, a brush to remove particles of dust, and means for ejecting the taps yfrom the machine.

10. The sanding machine of claim' 9, in which means are provided for oscillating the sanding drum in a substantially horizontal plane while it is being rotated around .a substantially horizontal axis.

JACK P. ELLIOTT. 

